Apparatus for delivering mail



(No Model.) Y

D. COOKE. APPARATUS Fon DBLIVBRING MAIL.

No. 516,522. Patented Mar. 13, 1894.

DANIEL COOKE, OF CAMDEN, NEW JERSEY.

APPARATUS FOR DYELIVERING MAIL.v

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 516,522, dated March 13, 1894.

Application tiled June 22, 1893- To all whom t may concern.-

Be it known that I, DANIEL COOKE, a citi# zen of the United States, residing in the city and county of Camden, State of New Jersey, have invented a new and useful Improvement 1n Apparatus for Delivering Mail, which improvement is fully set forth inthe following sents a modified form of a catch for retaining the mail box, and a device for releasing the same.l

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures.

Referring to thedrawings: A and B designate vertical chutes which are adjacent to each other, and above the -same is mounted a pulley C over which passes a cable or rope D, whose ends enter the chutes A and .B. The chute B is widened as at B and communicates with an opening E in the base or lioor A', in which latter isa receiver or box F. v Secured to` one end of the cable Dis a box G, which moves in the chute A, and isprovided with a slot for the admission of mailV matter. Secured to the other end of the-cable D is a carrier H,whicl1 is provided with a slanting bottom, and one side of which is open,said carrier moving in the chute B, ythe wall of which at certain times closes the open side thereof.

Fastened to the chute B in a suitable manner is a box J which communicates with the interior of the carrier H through an opening K in the sideof the chute B, the latter having within the same asliding gate L for closing said opening at the required time, the parts being so arranged that the open side of the carrier H communicates with saidjopening K when said carrier is in its elevated position.

Between the box J and the chute B, and in front of the opening is placed a spring-actu- Serial No. 478,447. (No model.)

` ated dog or catch M to which is Secured the cord or wire N, having la handle P, to which cord is also attached the hammer of the bell Q. A catch R is situated at the upper part of the chute A for holding the box G when the latter has been elevated. Weights S are placed in the box J and guided toward the side of the dog M, said side rising sufficiently to act as a temporary stop for said weights.

The operation is as followszflhe mail is placed in the box G, and the handleP is pulled, v thus depressing the dog M,whereby one'of the weights rolls on said dog andbears against the lower wall of the opening K' las a stop.

When the handle is released, the bell'rings and the dog rises and. elevates the weight andf then directs it into the carrier H, which now beingweighted, descends and owing to the rope D causes the ascent ofthe boxG to full extent, when itV is engaged'by the catch R and thus held. The weight S escapes from the carrier H when the latter reaches the portion B of the chute B., and drops orrollsinto the receiver F through the opening E. When the carrier H passes the opening K, the gate losing its support thereon will lower and closeA said opening, whereby neither of the other weights will be permitted to enter the chute B, while the carrier isin alowered condition.

When the contents ot the boxhave been removed, the catch Ris operated so as to rethe carrier H, the box Gis now the heavier, and hence descends, elevating the carrier H, and raising the gate so as to uncover the opening K, whereby another weight may pass through the same, when the apparatus is further operated.

Should an attendant or janitor on the upper door fail to release the mail box, the postman may accomplish the same from below. For this purpose instead of the catch R, which is shown in Fig. 1, there are hinged at the top of the chute A. the grippers T, which are adapted to engage a head U on the box, said grippers being held in contact with said head by means of the springV see Fig. 4. Alever W is mounted above said grippers and provided with a depending wedge X, which when lowered enters between the shanks of the grippers and opens the latter whereby the box is free to descend. The lever is lowered by means of a rod provided with a knob or handle P', the` latter being within reach of the postman on the lower floor, and said lever is raised or returned to its normal position by means of the spring Y which is suitably connected with the same.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tolsecure by Letters Patent, is-

l. A mail delivery apparatus having two vertical chutes, a mail box in one of the chutes, and a carrier in the other chute, flexible connections for said box and carrier, weights and a spring controlled catch for controlling the admission of said weights into said carrier, said parts being combined substantially as described.

l named combined substantially as described.

3. Int a4 mail delivery apparatus, a chute with a carrier` therein, a weight-containing box incommunication with an openingin said chute, leading to said carrier, a gate in said` chute supported and controlled by said carrier and an` ascending and `descending mail box connected with said. carrier said parts being combined*` substantially as` described.

4. A chut-e having an openingat the lower end, anda carrier in said chute having an opening in itsside` in combinationwith abox, aweight in said chamber, and means for di recting said weight from said chamber through the opening in the chuteinto said carrier, substantially as described.

5. In a mail delivery apparatus, an ascending mail box,a chute with an opening in its side, a carrier with an opening in its side adapted to register with that in the chute, and a box containing a weight located adjacent to said openings in said chute, in combination with a dog intermediate of said chute and box adapted to temporarily stop said weight, and then direct it into said carrier, whereby said mail box which is connected with the carrier may be elevated, substantially as described.

6. A mail box, a carrier connected with said mail box and having an opening in its side, a chute in which said carrier moves, provided witha widened lower portion, said chute having an opening adapted to register with said carrier opening, a box adapted to contain balls, and mechanism substantially as described for stopping then directing a ball or balls from said box into said carrier, and a receiver below said carrier chute for said balls, said parts being combined substantially as described.

7. A mailbox,a carrier connectedwith said mail box and having anopening therein, a box` containing ballsrnec hanism for directing said balls to said box, a catchfor holding said mail box in elevated position, and mechanism for releasing said catchfrom saidmail box,said parts being combined substantially as described.

8. Two adjacentl chutes, a mailbox movable in one of said chutes, a` carrier movable `in1 the other chute and connected with said mail box, said `carrier having an opening in its side and said` carrier chute having an opening therein with which said carrier opening is adapted toregister, a box containing balls and aspring dog for directing saidgballs to said carrier, said parts being combined substantially as` described.`

DANIEL COOKE. Vtitnesses:

JOHN A. WIEDERsHmtn A. P. JENNINGS. 

